Your visual guide to the Hungarian Parliament's interior
What Can You Find Inside the Hungarian Parliament?
The Ceremonial Staircase
The staircase runs from the main entrance to the Dome Hall, with 96 steps covered by a red carpet. Its ceiling frescoes are by painter Károly Lotz, and the decorative stained glass windows on either side came from Miksa Róth’s workshop.
Dome Hall
The Dome Hall is almost 27 metres tall. An ambulatory on the lower level leads to a vaulted ceiling with stained glass windows. Since January 1, 2000, the hall has housed the Hungarian Holy Crown, guarded by the Crown Guard of the Hungarian Armed Forces.
The Great Hall
Hungarian Parliament meets in the building’s largest room, the Great Hall. It is 200 feet long and 100 feet wide and can accommodate up to 1,000 people at a time. A ceiling window depicts the coronation of King Saint Stephen, Hungary’s first king.
The Clock Tower
At 96 metres, the Clock Tower is the highest point in the building and provides views of Budapest. It takes 365 steps to reach the top, representing the 365 days in a year. Four bronze clocks, one on each side of the tower, chime every hour.
Matthias Room
The room is named after King Matthias Corvinus, who ruled Hungary in the 15th century. He established a standing army, reformed justice, and supported art and science. Hungary was the first country to embrace the Renaissance. Hungarian and Slovak folk tales remember Matthias as a hero. Frescoes depicting scenes from his life decorate the room, which also holds a collection of his armour and weapons.
The Crown Jewels
Hungary’s most important treasures, which date back to the 12th century, are kept in a secure vault in the Parliament Building. They include the Holy Crown and the Hungarian monarchy’s Coronation Regalia: the Orb, the Scepter and the Sword of St. Stephen. The sword is said to have belonged to Saint Stephen, Hungary’s first king, and is a symbol of the monarchy’s authority and power.
Sculptures and statues
The Great Hall contains statues of Lajos Kossuth and István Széchenyi. János Fadrusz’s sculptures, including the statue of Gyula Andrássy, stand outside the building. Inside, György Zala’s realistic portraits include statues of Ferenc Deák and Lajos Batthyány in the Great Hall. On the exterior, Mihály Kolozsváry’s decorative sculptures stand alongside László Marton’s sculptures of Justice and Liberty.
Stained glass artwork
Miksa Róth, regarded as a master of stained glass, created many of the paintings in the Hungarian Parliament. The best-known examples include The Coronation of Saint Stephen in the Great Hall, The Battle of Mohács in the Matthias Room and The Tree of Life in the Rotunda of the Parliament House.
Béla Neÿ Hall
The exhibits include copper statues and a 1:100 scale model of the Parliament. Ten screens provide themed information, show spaces not included in the tour and present the Parliament’s construction history.
City Side Staircase
The City Side Staircase is gold-plated and is one of the twenty-eight staircases in the Hungarian Parliament. It leads to the main floor and has statues, stained glass windows and frescoes, with views of Kossuth Square.
Chamber of Peers
The Chamber of Peers is now used as a conference hall. It has Slavonian oak panels, a multi-level gallery, a large oak podium, horseshoe seating and acoustics suited to the room. Paintings of the coats of arms of Hungary’s royal families hang on the main wall behind the podium.
Chamber of Peers Lounge
The lounge beside the Dome Hall preserves the memory of Hungary’s historic national groups and crafts. It contains pyro granite sculptures and Europe’s largest hand-knotted carpet, which covers the hall in turquoise.
Tickets for the Hungarian Parliament building
Hungarian Parliament Audio Guided Tour
Combo (Save 8%): Hungarian Parliament Guided Tour + Danube River Sightseeing Cruise Tickets
Combo (Save 8%): Hungarian Parliament Multilingual Audio Guided Tour + Széchenyi Spa Entry Tickets
Budapest Grand City Tour with Parliament Visit
Inside the Hungarian Parliament: visitor rules
- Valid identification: Visitors must show a valid ID or passport and pass a security check before entering the Budapest Parliament grounds.
- Prohibited items: Items that could harm others are not allowed. These include pocket knives, blades and pepper spray. Firearms, weapons, explosives and related devices are also banned from the premises.
- Wheelchair access: Visitors using a wheelchair can access the full Hungarian Parliament tour.
- Animals: Guide dogs are permitted, but other animals cannot enter the building.
- Clothing: Wear suitable clothing for the visit. Clothing that promotes propaganda is not permitted during the tour.
- Rules of conduct: Eating, drinking and smoking are not permitted in the building. Flags and protest paraphernalia are also prohibited. Raising your voice, singing and demonstrating are not allowed.
- Stairs, floors and furniture: Sitting, kneeling or lying on these surfaces or furnishings inside the Hungarian Parliament building is strictly prohibited.
- Photography: Photography and video are allowed during the tour, except in the Dome Hall.
What do visitors often ask about Inside the Hungarian Parliament building?
May visitors photograph the Hungarian Parliament's interior?
Photography is permitted throughout the Hungarian Parliament, but not in the Dome Hall, which houses the Holy Crown. As you admire the majestic interiors, show consideration for fellow visitors and observe any instructions from staff.
